Coin separating machine



March 23, 1965 R. c. RAU 3,174,488

com SEPARATING MACHINE Filed May 22. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l l44d use IFIG.6

INVENTOR.

RICHARD C. RAU

WMWW

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,174,488 COIN SEPARATING MACHINE RichardC. Rau, Mention, Mass., assiguor to Electronic Coin ProcessingCorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 22,1961, Ser. No. 111,663 3 (Ilaims. (Cl. 133-3) This invention relates tocoin handling machines and more particularly comprises a device forseparating worn and mutilated coins from coins in good condition. Whilethis invention has numerous applications, it is particularly well suitedfor use in combination with other equipment which tests the authenticityof coins of one or more denominations.

In recent years automatic coin handling equipment such as vendingmachines and change makers have come into wide use. Because worn andmutilated coins may jam or otherwise impair the operation of such coinequipment, considerable energy has been directed to the discovery ofinexpensive, dependable, large capacity devices for separating the wornand/ or mutilated coins from coins in good condition. Such devices areused to advan tage as the first stage in a coin handling assembly toremove the worn and mutilated coins before the coins are directed tocoin proovers in the equipment.

The primary object of my invention is to provide dependablehigh-capacity coin separators.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coin separator which mayreadily be combined with other forms of coin handling equipment as thefirst stage of an assembly, to prevent worn and mutilated coins fromreaching machines disposed further along in the assembly.

My invention capable of achieving the several objects noted may beembodied in one of several forms. In each of the several forms of myinvention, the coins being tested are directed through a slot of aheight just in excess of maximum acceptable coin thickness. In thismanner, overly thick coins are separated from those which do not exceedthe maximum allowable thickness. In several embodiments of my invention,the coins being tested are directed to the inlet of slots of a heightsubstantially equal to the minimum acceptable thickness of coins of thedenomination under test. In this manner, coins that are too thin areseparated from the batch. To further test the coins being handled, theslots may be of substantial length so that bowed or bent coins willwedge in one of the slots which is sized to pass unbowed and unbentcoins.

These and other objects and features of my invention, along with itsincident advantages, will be better understood and appreciated from thefollowing detailed description of several embodiments thereof, selectedfor purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of a coin separatorconstructed in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the motoromitted;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 1 but with parts brokenaway to show the interior of the mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a side view partly in section of another embodiment of a coinseparator constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG.4; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view partly in section of yet another embodimentof a coin separator constructed in accordance with my invention.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 1-3

includes in its general organization a coin receiver 10, multi-stagecoin tester 12 and an acceptable coin collector 14. The multi-stage cointester 12 includes two pairs of closely spaced discs 16 and 18 carriedby shafts 20 and 22, respectively. The shafts 20 and 22 are supportedfor rotation about horizontal axes by pillars 24 and 26. It will benoted in the figures that the axis of shaft 20 is disposed above theaxis of shaft 22, and that the diameters of the pairs of discs aresubstantially equal.

The discs of pair 16 supported on shaft 20 are disposed immediatelybeneath the discharge end of coin receiver 18. The discs are spacedapart a distance substantially equal to the minimum acceptable thicknessof coins of the denomination under test. The spaced inner faces 28 ofthe discs 16 thus define a slot 30 through which coins of less thanacceptable thickness may slide. About the periphery of the discs 16beyond the slot 30 is a seat or channel 32 adequate in thickness toreceive virtually all coins deposited on the periphery by the coinreceiver 10. The periphery of the discs are beveled as shown at 34 toassure that coins sit in the channel 32.

In FIG. 3 it will be noted that a pair of thin plates or shims 36 and 38are disposed in the slot 30 between the discs 16 so as to define incooperation with the surfaces 28 the margins of the slot. The plates 36and 38 serve to direct coins which enter the slot 30 downwardly betweenthe discs to a collector 40. Coins 42 disposed in the slot 30 are shownto be guided by the shims through the slot across the discs into thecollector 40.

Coins deposited on the channel 32 on the periphery of the discs 16 andwhich do not fit into and therefore fall downwardly through the slot 30will ride on the channel and be directed by means of the track 44 to theperiphery of the second pair of discs 18. The track 44 cooperates withthe upper edge of shim 38 to roll the coins from the periphery of discs16 to the periphery of discs 18.

The discs 18 are substantially identical to the discs 16 but are spacedapart a distance substantially equal to the maximum acceptable thicknessof coins of the denomination under test. Thus, the surfaces 46 of thediscs 18 together define a slot 48 through which coins which do notexceed a maximum acceptable thickness may fall. The edge 50 of shim 38and yet another shim 52 cooperate with the surfaces 46 to define themargins of the slot 48. In FIG. 3 coins 54 are shown falling through theslot 48 and into the chute 5610 a point of collection of coins which arenot excessively worn or mutilated.

The discs 18 like the discs 16 are provided with a channel 58 and abeveled edge 60 at their periphery to receive the coins from the track44. The channel 58 serves to carry those coins which are too thick topass into the slot 48 beyond the top of shim 52 where they ultimatelyare guided by the trailing edge 62 of shim 52 into collector 64. Coins66 are shown in FIG. 3 to be headed for the collector 64 of coins ofexcessive thickness.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 1-3 function as follows:Coins ostensibly of the particular denomination under test are fed bythe receiver 10 to the channel 32 of discs 16. The discs 16 which arerotated together with discs 18 by the belt and pulley system 68 in turnsupplied with power from a motor 69 turn in a direction indicated byarrow 70 to direct coins onto the upper edge of shim 38 and into track44. However, those coins which are thinner than the width of slot 30fall between the discs 16 and are directed by shims 36 and 38 to thecollector 48. Coins which escape the slot 30 are directed by the upperedge of shim 38 and track 44 to the channel 58 on discs 18. The discs 18rotate in the direction of arrow 72 and the slot 48 will receive allcoins which do not exceed the maximum acceptable mum acceptablethickness as defined by the slot.

3 thickness as defined by the space between the surfaces 46 of thediscs. Those coins which drop into the slot 48 will be larger than theminimum acceptable thickness as they escape the slot 30, and will notexceed the maxi- Overly thick coins will be carried on the channel 58 ofdiscs 18 to the collector 64. Thus, excessively worn coins will gatherin collector 40, oversized and mutilated coins will collect in collector64, and coins of the proper size will be directed to a point ofcollection through chute 56.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 4 and includes a coinreceiver 80, a single stage coin tester 82, a chute 84 for acceptablecoins and a collector 86 of unacceptable coins.

The coin tester 82 is supported on a frame 88 which carries a horizontalshaft 90 that rotates the tester about a horizontal axis. A pulley 92secured to the end of shaft 90 provides an input for the system. Theshaft 90 supports a drum 94 for rotation about the horizontal axis ofstationary hub 96. The drum 94 includes a flared wall 98 which providesthe drum with a relatively narrow inlet end 100 and an enlargeddischarge end 102. The portion of the wall 98 which defines thedischarge end 102 of the drum 94 is vertically oriented to define avertical wall segment 104 that is closely spaced to a plate 106 mountedfor rotation with the drum and which partially closes its discharge end.The periphery of plate 106 defines with the vertical wall segment 104 aslot 108 of a width substantially equal to the maximum acceptablethickness of coins of the denomination under test.

Coins introduced into the inlet end 100 of the drum 94 slide on the wall98, which defines an inclined plane, to the slot 108 and are furtherdirected to the slot by guide 110 carried by hub 96. Those coins whichdo not exceed the maximum acceptable thickness of the denomination ofcoin under test will fall through the slot 108 into the chute 84 and begathered as acceptable coins. Those coins which exceed the maximumacceptable thickness will wedge in the slot 108, because the wall 98gradually converges toward the plate 106. The coins which wedge in theslot will be carried by the rotation of the drum 94 to the location ofclearing mechanism 112 disposed immediately above the periphery of theplate 106 and vertical wall segment 104.

The clearing mechanism 112 includes a ring gear 114 carried by and thatrotates with the drum 94. The ring gear 114 drives a gear 116 supportedon the top of frame 88 and which in turn carries an eccentricallymounted wheel 118. The wheel 118 in turn is connected to a finger or rod120 aligned with the slot 108 and moves the finger vertically in and outof the slot 108 in response to rotation of the gears 114 and 116. Thus,the finger 120 serves to dislodge those coins which wedge in the slotand are carried to the location of the clearing mechanism. Coins thatare dislodged from the slot 108 by the finger 120 fall into a stationarychute 122 disposed within the drum 94 and are conveyed to the collector86.

In operation, the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5functions as follows: Coins to be separated are deposited in thereceiver 80 mounted on frame 124 and are directed by the receiver intothe inlet end 100 of the drum 94. A number of arms 126 are supported onthe hub 96 and extend downwardly into the drum toward its wall 98 andserve to agitate the coins deposited in the drum and spread them outalong the inner surface of the drum wall. The arms 126 may be made ofmagnetic material so that they may pick up iron slugs fed into the drum.A door 128 formed in the wall 98 affords access into the interior of thedrum for periodic clearing of coins which neither pass through the slot108 or discharge from the drum by clearing mechanism 112. As the drum 94rotates, the coins slide down the inclined wall 98 and are directed byguide 110 to the slot 108. Those coins which do not exceed the maximumacceptable thickness enter the chute 84 while others which exceed theacceptable size lodge in the slot and are later directed to thecollector 86 by means of clearing mechanism 112 and chute 122.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 6 includes a coin receiver130, a multi-stage tester 132, and several collectors disposed adjacentthe tester. The multi-stage tester 132 is oriented within a stationarydrum 134 supported in a slightly inclined position by frame 136. Somefive plates 138 separately numbered 138a to 1380 extend across the drum134 and are generally normal to the drum axis. Each of the five plates138 defines with the cylindrical wall of the drum a coin bin orcontainer 142. Thus, five such bins 142a-142e are arranged one above theother in tiers within the drum. Each of the plates 138 is provided witha warped or bent portion 140 which serves as a chute between adjacentbins. Thus, coins entering the uppermost bin 142a will travel downthrough the bins 142b, 1420, 142d and 1420 via the respective warpedportions 140 of the plates. In effect, the several plates with theirwarped or bent portions define a spiral passage through which the coinsmay move from the upper to the lower end of the drum.

Adjacent the lower edges of the five plates 138a-138e are slots 144separately numbered 144a144e. As the slots 144 are disposed at the loweredge of the plates 138, coins disposed on the plates may slide towardthe slots, and if the coins are of a thickness less than the slot heightthey may pass through the slots and out of the drum 134.

Extending axially through the drum 134 is a shaft 146 having its endsdisposed in bearings 148-150. A pulley 152 is mounted on the lower endof the shaft to provide an input to rotate the shaft. The shaft 146carries in each bin 142 immediately above the plate 138 a wiper arm 154that extends outwardly to the inner surface of the drum 134. As shaft146 rotates, the wipers 154 rotate with it and move the coins disposedin each of the bins over the surface of the plate 138. The wipers 154push the coins in the bins by the mouth or inlet of the slots 144 at thelower edge of the inclined plates 138 and further carry those coinswhich do not pass into the slots 144 to the warped portions 140 of theplates so that they may slide into the next lower bin of the drum.

Preferably the height of the slots 144 are successively greater fromstage to stage; that is, the height of slot 144b exceeds the height ofslot 144a, the height of slot 144a exceeds that of slot 144k andcontinuing to slot 144a. The height of slot 144e is substantially equalto the maximum acceptable thickness of coins of the denomination undertest. Slot 144d should be substantially equal to the minimum acceptablethickness of coins under test. Thus, all coins thinner than the minimumacceptable thickness should slide through one of slots 144a-144d, whilecoins which do not exceed the maximum acceptable thickness should passthrough slot 144a.

The bottom wall 156 of drum 134 forms with the cylindrical wall of thedrum yet another bin 158 and it too is provided with an exit slot 160.Slot 160 should be considerably larger than the maximum acceptable cointhickness so that all coins carried to bin 158 by warped portion 140 ofwall 138a may exit from the coin tester.

Disposed adjacent to the drum 134 are several collectors 16251-162).Collector 162a is aligned with the slot 144a formed in the uppermost binof the drum and collects the thinnest coins discharged from the drum.Coin collector 162b-162d receive slightly thicker coins than those incollector 162a but of less than minimum acceptable thickness. Colleetor1622 disposed adjacent slots 144a receives those coins which are withinthe proper range of thickness while collector 162 receives all oversizedcoins. A chute 164 communicates with collector 162a to convey acceptablecoins to a desirable location.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 6 operates as follows: allcoins ostensibly of the denomination under test are fed to themulti-stage tester 132 through the receiver 130. The coins from thereceiver are deposited in the uppermost bin 142a in the tester, assuggested by coins 166. All the coins will slide on the inclined plate138a of the bin 142a towards the slot 144a. Those very thin coins whichpass through the slot 144a will be gathered in collector 162a, and thosecoins which do not pass through slot 144a will be picked up by wiper 154and be pushed in the bin 142a until they reach the warped portion 140 ofthe plate 138a. The warped portion 140 will carry the coins to the nextlower bin 14% as suggested by coin 168. The coins in bin 14% will inturn be directed past slot 144 and if thinner than the height of theslot will discharge into collector 16%. The wiper 154 disposed on theplate 138]) will convey the coins in bin 14% which do not pass throughthe slot 14 1b to the Warped section 140 of that plate where they willbe taken to the next lower bin 142c. This operation is continued untilthe coins filter down through the drum 134 and discharge into one of thecollectors.

From the foregoing description those skilled in the art will appreciatethe numerous modifications which may be made of any of the embodimentsof my invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, I do notintend to limit the breadth of this invention to specific embodimentsillustrated and described, but rather it is my intention that thebreadth of this invention be determined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is: i

1. A coin sorting machine for handling coins of one denominationcomprising a first pair of discs mounted for rotation about a firstcommon horizontal axis, a second pair of spaced discs mounted forrotatiton about a second common horizontal axis, said pairs of discsbeing oriented with the uppermost point on the periphery of the secondpair of discs being disposed below the uppermost point on the peripheryon the first pair of discs, means for rotating the pairs of discs abouttheir axes, means spacing the first pair of discs apart a distancesubstantially equal to the minimum acceptable thickness of coins of saidone denomination, means spacing the second pair of discs apart adistance substantially equal to the maximum acceptable thickness ofcoins of said denomination, means for depositing coins to be sorted onthe periphery of the first pair of discs, and means carrying coins fromthe periphery of the first pair to the periphery of the second pairwhich fail to fall between the discs of the first pair.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 further characterized by the rotationof the first pair of discs carrying coins on the periphery of said firstpair toward the second pair.

3. A coin sorting machine comprising a first pair of parallel discsoriented about a horizontal axis and spaced apart a distance capable ofreceiving all coins thinner than the minimum acceptable thickness ofcoins of the denomination being sorted, a channel formed about theperiphery of the pair of discs and into which coins to be sorted aredeposited, said channel aligning coins carried by it with the spacebetween the discs, a second pair of parallel discs oriented about ahorizontal axis and spaced apart a distance capable of receiving allcoins which do not exceed the maximum acceptable thickness of coins ofthe denomination being sorted, a channel formed about the periphery ofthe second pair of discs for receiving coins and aligning them with thespace between said second pair, means'for rotating the first recitedpair of discs so that coins in their channel which fail to fall betweenthem move toward the second pair of discs, a track for conveying coinsfrom the channel of the first recited pair to the channel on the secondpair of discs, means for rotating the second pair of discs so that coinsin their channel move away from the first pair of discs, and means forcollecting coins from the channel of the second pair which fail to fallbetween said second pair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS574,528 Elder Jan. 5, 1897 937,517 Galligan Oct. 19, 1909 1,028,611Sattley June 4, 1912 1,095,981 Farrell May 5, 1914 1,168,461 BatdorfJan. 18, 1916 1,363,818 Scott Dec. 28, 1920 1,813,841 Fast July 7, 19311,894,190 Myers Ian. 10, 1933 2,289,002 Fleming et a1 July 7, 1942

1. A COIN SORTING MACHINE FOR HOLDING COINS OF ONE DENOMINATION COMPRISING A FIRST PAIR OF DISCS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A FIRST COMMON HORIZONTAL AXIS, A SECOND PAIR OF SPACED DISCS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A SECOND COMMON HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID PAIRS OF DISCS BEING ORIENTED WITH THE UPPERMOST POINT ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE SECOND PAIR OF DISCS BEING DISPOSED BELOW THE UPPERMOST POINT ON THE PERIPHERY ON THE FIRST PAIR OF DISCS, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE PAIRS OF DISCS ABOUT THEIR AXES, MEANS SPACING THE FIRST PAIR OF DISCS APART A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE THICKNESS OF COINS OF SAID ONE DENOMINATION, MEANS SPACING THE SECOND PAIR OF DISCS APART A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE THICKNESS OF COINS OF SAID DENOMINATION, MEANS FOR DEPOSITING COINS TO BE SORTED ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE 